Debunking 7 Myths About Federal Jobs

Federal jobs in New York City attract thousands of interested candidates every time DCAS exams are held. However, many people are hesitant to apply for civil service because of the many myths surrounding federal jobs.

This article debunks some of the most widely believed myths about NYC federal jobs and civil service exams. Without further ado, let’s cut to the chase!

1. Federal Job Entrance Exams are Unfair

Entrance exams for most federal jobs come every 4 to 6 years. These are computerized exams held by the DCAS to evaluate the candidates’ competency for the job. The exams consist of multiple-choice questions, and candidates are awarded a score based on how many questions they get right.

How soon you’re called for the job depends on how well you do on the exam. For example, after NYC Sanitation Exam, the DSNY creates a rank report of all the candidates called the “hiring list.” This list is made available online for everyone to see. All the candidates are ranked on this list based on their test scores. When there’s a vacancy, the DSNY calls candidates from the top of the list. The process is well defined, completely transparent, and fair for all candidates.

2. Federal Jobs Don’t Have A Clear Career Path

Many people fear that they’ll have difficulty climbing up the hierarchy ladder of federal departments. Unlike in the private sector, you can’t get promoted by buttering up your bosses in a federal department.

Federal departments have a formal way to apply for a promotion. Once you apply, become eligible for a DCAS promotion exam. If you pass the exam, you get promoted to the position you applied for. Everything is systemic, and there’s no room for other people’s personal biases for or against you. If anything, the career path in federal departments is, in fact, clearer than in private companies.

3. Federal Jobs Exploit New Employees

This is a long-running myth about many federal departments, but it’s just that—a myth. People think federal departments make new employees do more work than private jobs. Some people fear they’ll even have to work past their shift. In reality, federal departments strictly follow the state labor laws and are far less likely to exploit an employee than private companies, such as Amazon.

You are paid handsome compensation even when you do extra work outside your shift. Some DSNY employees earned up to $300,000 with these compensatory payments last year. The compensatory payments range from 1.5 to 2 times your regular per-hour wage.

4. Federal Jobs Don’t Give Good Raises

This myth isn’t as widely held as some of the other ones, but it’s common nonetheless. People think your salary as a federal employee stays the same or increases slower than inflation. In reality, most departments give you a raise far larger than the inflation rate.

For example, after you pass the upcoming DCAS Sanitation Exam 2060, your starting salary will be $47,371. You’ll get raises after this, and the salary will go up to $89,339 in five years and six months. This is considering you don’t get promoted. When you do, you immediately get a raise with higher future raises.

5. Federal Jobs Don’t Give a Good Work/Life Balance

Some people fear they won’t get a good work/life balance once they pass the DCAS exams and get recruited. The truth is, you’ll probably get a better work/life balance in the public sector than you can ever hope for in the private sector.

Most federal jobs are 8-hour shifts that limit a work week to 40 hours. The NYC Firefighters have to work 24 hours shifts because of the nature of their job. They get 48 or 72 hours off after each shift, and a work week averages at 42.5 hours. Unlike in the private sector, you’re never expected to work past the shift, which gives you a far better work/life balance. Federal jobs in NYC also give you 15 paid casual leaves. Veterans can also get 30 extra leaves in some cases.

6. Federal Jobs aren’t Satisfying

Job satisfaction is mostly subjective. Some people want a job where they can make productive use of their skills. Others seek jobs to play a meaningful role in society. Federal jobs have something to offer everyone.

Working in the NYC police department or the fire department is the ultimate opportunity to employ your physical and mental abilities. Solving cases around the city and strategizing plans to minimize fire damage is as good a use for your cognitive skills as you’ll find. Fighting crime and saving actual lives in burning buildings are roles reserved only for New York’s Bravest.

All federal departments play vital roles in the city. If a meaningful job role means something to you, don’t let anything stop you from filing the Suffolk Police Application.

7. Federal Job Entrance Exams Aren’t Easy

There is some truth to this myth. Entrance exams for federal departments are open and competitive. Thousands of interested candidates appear in the exam, while most departments have limited positions. This means that candidates must compete against others during the recruitment process to get a greater chance of securing a position.

That said, it’s not that different from preparing for these exams with proper guidance. DCAS exams are very different from high school exams that most people are used to. This makes it harder to figure out how to prepare for different stages of recruitment.

This is where we come in. At Civil Service Success, we conduct preparation classes for different NYC civil service exams to help candidates prepare. Many of our instructors are retired police officers, firefighters, and other civil service workers with prominent careers. We’re soon starting our preparation classes for the upcoming NYC Sanitation Exam.

Can’t wait to serve the city? Get in touch now!